Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 628 Move Forward for Me
The 8th Company, responsible for counterattacking Hill 597, did not request artillery support from the regiment, but instead moved directly towards Hill 597.

The positions on Hill 597 were dug out shovel by shovel by the 8th Company; they knew them very well.

Moreover, by not using artillery, it can avoid alerting the US military in advance.

At midnight, the counter-attack force reached the foot of the mountain.

After glancing at the silent high ground, the 8th Company Commander whispered an order to the platoon leaders:

“1排、3排率先进攻1号阵地，得手后往3号、10号、7号进攻，然后一路迂回攻击11号阵地。”

“等1号阵地被拿下以后，2排负责进攻东北山棱上的8号、2号阵地，然后往11号阵地进攻。”

"As for position 0, we can leave it to the 9th Company."

"Is everything clear?"

"clear!"

"Good!" The 8th Company Commander glanced at his watch: "Mortars, general-purpose machine guns, and heavy machine guns will be allocated according to the original plan."

"Take action!"

At the command, the first and third rows began to move forward quietly.

Although Beckett believed that the Chinese People's Volunteer Army would not compete with the US military for the north-south mountain ridge, he did not let his guard down.

On Hill 597, although the main force of the US 31st Regiment had withdrawn, Beckett had left a platoon of soldiers to defend each position.

According to his estimate, even if the Chinese People's Volunteer Army launched an attack, a platoon of defenders, plus reinforced firepower, would be able to hold out for several hours.

He can make adjustments based on the actual situation at that time.

The U.S. troops remaining behind were highly vigilant. When the soldiers of the 8th Company reached the edge of the trench, the U.S. troops immediately noticed something amiss.

Although the Polar Bear Regiment is a newly formed unit, these soldiers are not new recruits; most of them are veterans who experienced World War II.

The moment the American soldiers spotted the Chinese People's Volunteer Army, they immediately demonstrated extremely high combat skills.

Searchlights, flares, and signal flares shot into the sky almost simultaneously, enveloping the entire position in a white light.

The pre-set crossfire network then began its attack.

Although the 1st and 3rd platoons of the 8th Company had approached the edge of the trench, the remaining 20 meters seemed like an insurmountable chasm, and the soldiers were suppressed by dense crossfire and could not raise their heads.

"Heavy machine guns will provide immediate fire support, and mortars will strike enemy firing positions!"

The company commander of the 8th Company in the rear decisively ordered heavy machine guns and mortars to provide fire support.

However, the US military's heavy machine guns are mostly hidden in bunkers. While mortars and heavy machine guns can have some impact, they cannot completely destroy them.

The two sides exchanged fierce fire for more than ten minutes. Due to the inability to fully utilize their combat positions, the 8th Company suffered heavy losses, including the death of the political instructor in charge.

Seeing his instructor and comrades fall one after another, Li Zhong, the deputy squad leader of the 3rd squad, had tears in his eyes.

Li Zhong snatched two demolition charges from the demolition expert next to him, turned around and said, "I'm going to blow up the enemy's bunker. After I successfully demolish it, you guys take over and move forward!"

After saying that, Li Zhong lunged forward and crawled toward the enemy's position.

The density of US firepower was extremely high. Even though Li Zhong tried his best to keep his body low, he was still hit by bullets several times.

A clear trail of blood was left on the ground.

By the time Li Zhong got close to the enemy's bunker, his whole body had begun to tremble.

With his last breath, Li Zhong pulled the fuse and threw the explosive charge into the firing port.

"boom!"

With a loud bang, the US military bunker collapsed.

The previously dense network of crossfire suddenly developed a huge gap.

Platoon leader Sun Zhanyuan had no time for sentimentality and immediately shouted, "Follow me and kill!"

"Kill!"

The soldiers shouted and charged through the breach.

The American troops on the front lines were in a panic. In night battles and close combat, no one dared to say they could defeat the Chinese People's Volunteer Army.

American soldiers shouted, "Grenades! Throw grenades!"

A series of explosions sounded.

Just as the first platoon rushed through the gap, a grenade exploded right next to Sun Zhanyuan.

Sun Zhanyuan's legs were blown off on the spot.

Upon seeing this, the soldiers nearby immediately prepared to take him down.

"Don't worry about me!" Sun Zhanyuan shouted. "Yi Xuecai! Take some men and take out those firing positions on the left."

"Once the attack channel is open, everyone charge immediately!"

The enemy's most fortified bunkers have been destroyed, and the remaining firing positions can be easily attacked with rocket launchers.

"You lot! Come with me!" Yi Xuecai pointed to a few soldiers and rushed out.

With the cover of fire from behind, the group destroyed three firing positions in succession, clearing the way for the 8th Company to advance.

The other soldiers of the first platoon were the first to rush to the position.

Having lost their terrain advantage, the American troops in the position were no match for them and were pushed back by the 8th Company in just a few minutes.

When Yi Xue returned with his men, intending to take Sun Zhanyuan away, he saw only blood everywhere, and Sun Zhanyuan lying pale-faced in a pool of blood.

With the fall of Position 1, the terrain advantage of the remaining positions was no longer significant, and they were successively captured by eight consecutive attacks.

Beckett's face turned extremely grim as he watched the continuous, massive explosions on the battlefield.

"Sir, all units are retreating one after another. We can still make contact with positions 7 and 11 now."

Beckett's expression turned even uglier.

Position 7 is isolated and outlying, and Position 11 is at the lowest elevation. If the other positions cannot be defended, then these two positions are out of the question.

Beckett decisively ordered, "Have them withdraw from the position immediately, but do not retreat directly; instead, move towards Triangle Hill."

After a pause, Beckett added, "In addition, report to the division headquarters that the enemy has sent two reinforced battalions to counterattack from the left and right. Our troops are outnumbered and have now retreated."

"Request the artillery units to provide fire support to the outer perimeter of Triangle Hill."

If the US military can hold Triangle Hill, it will be like driving a nail into Five Directions Ridge.

Launching an attack through Triangle Hill is far simpler than attacking from the front.

"Yes, sir!"
The sudden and powerful artillery bombardment disrupted the 8th Company's offensive plan.

The Triangle Hill position was a relatively isolated hilltop, heavily guarded by concentrated firepower, making it impossible for the soldiers to get close.

Even after heavy mortar fire hit Triangle Hill, the US and Confederate forces held their ground and refused to retreat.

The 8th Company had no choice but to temporarily halt its operations and allow the second-line troops to enter the battlefield.

"Commander, the 24th Detachment reports that the positions on the east and west slopes of Wufangling have been fully restored, and the second echelon has entered the field. However, the triangular hill of Wufangling is still in the hands of the UN forces."

Chen Chengxing asked, "What are the casualties of the troops?" "According to statistics, our army suffered more than 300 casualties, while the UN forces are estimated to have suffered more than 1,000 casualties."

Chen Chengxing's eyes were somewhat solemn: "With such heavy casualties, yet still showing no intention of retreating, the US military has quite a grand plan."

The location of Triangle Mountain is crucial, making it an excellent position to launch an attack.

This is similar to League of Legends. Once the second mid-lane tower is destroyed, it means the jungle is lost, and the enemy will gain the initiative in the attack.

The enemy's stubborn defense of Triangle Mountain suggests they are still planning another attack.

Chen Chengxing ordered, "Tell the 24th Detachment to immediately repair the surface trenches, transfer the wounded into the tunnels or rear hospitals, and at the same time transport supplies into the tunnels."

"The more supplies the better. Prioritize transporting ammunition, compressed rations, and water. Be prepared for a protracted war. The enemy will definitely launch another strong attack tomorrow."

Although the UN forces are now launching attacks across the board, Chen Chengxing believes that the enemy may intend to seize Wufangling.

Xu Wu went to relay the order, while Luo Ping said, "Old Chen, do you think the US military will focus its main attack on Wufangling this time?"

"But apart from the intense artillery bombardment, the fighting here doesn't seem to be fundamentally different from the battles on other positions."

"Moreover, the 243rd Regiment took back the position in just half an hour, so these American troops didn't seem that effective."

Luo Ping's meaning was simple: judging from the US military's performance that day, it was impossible for them to take Wufangling.

Chen Chengxing said, "That depends on whether the US military will continue to increase its investment here. However, we should know the US military's plans by tomorrow."

Chen Chengxing is still not entirely sure about the US military's plans.

This involves one of the most classic fallacies in warfare: whether to treat the enemy as a master or a fool.

The US military has dominated the world for so many years, and no matter what, Chen Chengxing could not possibly regard them as fools.

Therefore, Chen Chengxing concluded that the other side had already devised the most powerful plan and used all available resources.

Therefore, Chen Chengxing also took into account the potential problems that might arise after the start of the war.

All of the current arrangements made by the Second General Manager are aimed at minimizing the difficulties that may be encountered.

This is why, despite the intense shelling of Wufangling, the artillery was not moved to this area.

The plains between West Moon Ridge and West Horse Mountain were extremely advantageous to the US military, allowing them to easily leverage their full strengths.

If the U.S. military uses mechanized forces to launch a flanking attack on the Second General Staff Headquarters, it will cause the Second General Staff Headquarters a great deal of trouble.

Not only could the US military's mechanized forces not be effectively utilized in the Wufangling area, but the Chinese People's Volunteer Army had also dug a large number of tunnels there.

Fighting the Chinese People's Volunteer Army infantry here is hardly a good choice.

But it seems that the US military is determined to do just that.

This gives the US military's deployment a somewhat mysterious and unpredictable feel.

Even if you drilled two holes in Chen Chengxing's head, he still wouldn't have anticipated Clark's plans.

Clark's orders were an incredibly complicated strategy.

They didn't want a major conflict, but they still set a goal.

After setting the target, they not only failed to specify the bottom line, but also prepared a massive amount of war supplies.

Clark hadn't even considered what would happen if he couldn't score.

This made Chen Chengxing, although he had a premonition that something was wrong with Wufangling, not quite dare to believe it.

Chen Chengxing decided to wait a little longer; the US military's plans would definitely be revealed the next day.

Looking at the Wufangling position that had been gained and then lost again, Commander Marquez of the US 7th Division was somewhat annoyed.

In the evening, he thought the battle would be over by the 15th, but now everything is back to square one.

The only good news is that there is still one key position in the hands of the US military.

"Order the 31st Regiment to continue the fierce attack after dawn, and the artillery to increase its firepower."

"As long as our men do not launch an attack, the shells should keep falling on the enemy's positions; when the troops launch an attack, the artillery should be used to block the enemy's support routes."

"In short, the shelling must not stop for a moment!"

"Yes, sir!"

As the US military launched another fierce attack on Wufangling, and the offensive continued unabated, the situation gradually became clear.

Chen Chengxing said seriously, "It seems that the US military is indeed going to put a lot of effort into Wufangling."

U.S. forces on other fronts have ceased their attacks, and even those that haven't have slowed their advance.

Now, only the US forces at Wufangling have not slowed down; on the contrary, they have intensified their attacks.

Looking at the battle report, Luo Ping said, "Does the US military really think they can take Wufangling with these?"

According to the 243rd Regiment's battle report, the American firepower was indeed very strong, with more than 300 artillery pieces, more than 50 aircraft, and 40 to 50 tanks.

However, after a morning of fighting, the US forces had been forced to halt their operations in all directions except for the Wufangling frontline positions, which were still being contested repeatedly.

No matter how you look at it, the US military doesn't seem capable of taking Wufangling.

"Or is it that they want to tie down the Second Chief in order to support Curry's landing?" Luo Ping wondered.

Starting on the 9th, the U.S. military deployed more than 100 warships to operate in the waters off the coast of Kuli in northern North Korea.

Moreover, they have completed mine clearance work, conducted several large-scale landing drills, and mobilized dozens of transport aircraft to conduct battalion-level paratrooper and heavy equipment airdrop exercises.

According to the latest telegram, the U.S. Navy has launched hundreds of sorties today, and landing craft are also preparing to be deployed.

This looks like a much larger landing operation than the Incheon landing.

Chen Chengxing shook his head directly: "Curry landing is unlikely."

"The Chinese People's Volunteer Army is not the North Army. Although our supply lines have been attacked by American aircraft, the American forces are not strong enough to cut off our retreat."

"If the US military really lands, they are completely playing with their lives."

The North Korean army was crushed by the Inchon Landing entirely because it was too reckless.

Without supplies and with their retreat cut off, the Union army could be said to have collapsed on its own.

This would never have happened to the Chinese People's Volunteer Army.

The US military also knew that this was impossible, so they would never risk a landing.

"What does the US military mean?" Luo Ping said he didn't understand the US military's thinking.

Why keep attacking when you can't even win a fight?

"The US military is currently deploying six battalions in the offensive. If they fail to capture the city after a prolonged siege, they are very likely to send reinforcements," Chen Chengxing asserted.

Although the various actions of the US military had no substantial effect, the focus of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army was still tied down for a short period of time.

After all, a feint could turn into a main attack, so the US military actually held the initiative in the Wufangling area.

"Then what do you mean?"

“抽调1个152毫米榴弹炮营、1个122毫米榴弹炮营、1个火箭炮营，支援24支队！”

(End of this chapter)